PlaymoFriends
General => Report & Review => Topic started by: Knight Train on July 16, 2013, 22:42:46
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My 5258 train arrived yesterday. So here's a few pictures via Flickr of the unboxing and comments.
The box, lid flips up, does not come off and it opens "upside down" - the "hinge" is at the bottom where the red stripe with writing is.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7399/9301203175_381bc60023_o.jpg)
Box sides, no nice dioramas here.
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2836/9301203217_6496a47e00_o.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7460/9303984782_dff4ee46a3_o.jpg)
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5456/9303984696_f93fe2325c_o.jpg)
Inside the box, some track, cargo boxes, a few bags, and another box:
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2836/9303984758_484f8cf74e_o.jpg)
The contents:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7443/9301202943_8a3b40bc95_o.jpg)
Contains 12 curved tracks
2 straight tracks
3 box cars without lids
2 bottom side panels for engine
14 track clips (one bag contains 12 clips)
2 klickies in one bag
a bag containing the instruction manual, decals, engine roof, and latches for the flatcar.
a bag containing 3 cargo box lids, 2 clips for the straight tracks, 2 couplers for the engine, 4 buffer stops for the engine and a piece for the engine roof.
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2865/9303984612_bf2e53e154_o.jpg)
Opening the next box we see the RC controller at the top, the engine and flatcar. Note that this box did not fare to well on it's voyage from the Eastern US to the West Coast. Notice the coupler to the left that came off the flatcar.
Overall, I have to say, I'm a bit disappointing in the packaging. All the other RC trains have much nicer packaging with fixed compartments to hold everything and lids that come off. Makes me yean for the days where trains where packed custom styrofoam containers inside the box.
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5350/9303984646_eafc3f324c_o.jpg)
The engine as it comes right out of the box:
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5465/9301202719_0a15e260e1_o.jpg)
Another look at the engine: The battery pack is contained at the top under the screw. It takes six AA sized batteries. No batteries come with the train, so you'll want some on hand.
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2821/9301202673_3b26860789_o.jpg)
Opening the first bag we have the latches for the flatcar, the instruction manual (slightly bent because it was not in the smaller box), the decals, engine roof, and product pamphlet.
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2825/9301202641_f7f6151cbc_o.jpg)
The bottom sides of the engine are not attached. You get to attach them. These seem rather permanent once you attach them. I'm surprised they did not come attached.
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5343/9301202569_209097c899_o.jpg)
Engine with sides attached:
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5448/9301202499_50d1e0b304_o.jpg)
Opening another bag, we get the lids to the cargo boxes, 2 track clips for the two straight tracks, two couplers for the engine, four buffer stops for the engine and a grey square piece that does on the roof.
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5530/9301202731_95b4a25399_o.jpg)
The engine with the roof, sides, buffer stops and decals applied.
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2883/9303984178_0ca437e1ae_o.jpg)
Another shot of the engine:
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3791/9303984064_8d2d9b69dc_o.jpg)
The flatcar with the latches installed:
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5446/9303984022_2c5efafcd1_o.jpg)
Remote control. The left upper 1/0 button turns it on, the upper right button searches for frequencies.
The bottom left button turns on the engine track sounds - makes a noise like the train is running on real track.
The bottom middle turns on the lights. The lights are really nice - there 3 white lights on in front and 2 red lights on in the back. When you change the direction, the lights change too.
And the bottom right button sounds the horn.
Takes a 9 volt battery that wasn't supplied.
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5484/9301202197_be14cb77a8_o.jpg)
The damaged box within the box.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7411/9301202169_f1482448f2_o.jpg)
Flatcar with cargo boxes.
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5531/9303984000_2e88f4b4b7_o.jpg)
So, I was curious about the engine size, so I compared it to an old freight engine. It's a bit longer.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7355/9303983878_90a4707d44_o.jpg)
How does it compare with a 4029 engine?
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2883/9303983836_017e6bea97_o.jpg)
Let's remove the roof, and it's just about the same size.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7434/9301202077_12abf24599_o.jpg)
How do the cargo boxes compare to the old cargo containers. These boxes were used with the conlines ship and the eurotrans flatcar.
The 3 together are smaller than the old container.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3824/9301201993_255b7fa2b9_o.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7454/9303983724_8d1623f5cc_o.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7417/9301201939_c24ff2a537_o.jpg)
Overall, I'd say this is a rather nice train aside from the packaging which could be improved. The RC controller is easy to use, the lights are fantastic, and the engine with 6 batteries instead of 4 seems more powerful, but I haven't tested it's pulling power compared to other engines yet. The engine block is bigger than the other RC engines - distance between the wheels is longer, so retro fitting an old electric style engine block is not straight forward like it is on the other RC trains. I'll probably get another next time a 20% off sale comes along ;)
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Thanks for the very detailed pics :)
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Thanks for a comprehensive overview of the new set, Knight Train, and I look forward to your performance report.
Styrofoam is used less for packaging nowadays because of its adverse effects on the environment, so maybe we should applaud Playmobil for that.
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Wonderful set!! Many thanks for the very nice review!!!
George. :)
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Thanks for a comprehensive overview of the new set, Knight Train, and I look forward to your performance report.
Styrofoam is used less for packaging nowadays because of its adverse effects on the environment, so maybe we should applaud Playmobil for that.
well maybe tue, but that does that allow them to package it this badly???
Nice review, especially with comparing it with the other trains.
DOes it only have on white front light? It clearly advertises 3 on the box ::)
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I'm only saying that styrofoam is not an option, Martin, not that poor packaging is acceptable because it isn't.
There are three white lights on the front, you can see them in one of the pictures, a central one and two lower down towards the sides.
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Both of mine that I got last year had no damage to the boxes.
I have had them on display at exhibitions several times since last year and have posted some hints and tips on the loco on my web site with photographs of them at exhibitions.
I will have one on display at the Kirkbean exhibition.
www.walts-playmobil-collection.me.uk
pages Hints and tips or New Layout, both near the bottom of the webpage.
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DOes it only have on white front light? It clearly advertises 3 on the box ::)
It has 3 lights on the front and the back. The direction the train is going has all three lights lit on the "front" and they are white, on the "back" only the bottom 2 lights are lit and they are red.
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It has 3 lights on the front and the back. The direction the train is going has all three lights lit on the "front" and they are white, on the "back" only the bottom 2 lights are lit and they are red.
Presumably that is when the train is moving forward, but when moving backwards you say the lights change. Am I right in thinking that then there are two red lights on the front of the loco and two white on the back, or are all three lights on the front then red?
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Here's a couple of pictures. When the train is stopped, both sides have red lights. When train is moving, lights to "front" are white, lights to back are red. When train is reversed, lights reverse as well.
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Thanks for the extra information and pictures, Knight Train.
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Thanks for the great review, it's great to see trains back in the lineup
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Looks like a nice train, I always like how the clickies seem to be showing us the features of a set on the side of the box. :)
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I got out some track and cars today to do some comparisons in capacities. With 9 cars on a straight track both engines (a 4000 series plain locomotive versus the 5258 diesel) each had no problem pulling the cars. I got tired to digging out cars after that, so I got out 3 flatcars and loaded them with nine 28 ounce cans of tomatoes. The electric engine had a hard time pulling these while the 5258 diesel was able to pull them with no problems and no slippage.
So, it would seem that the new engine does have more hauling capacity. However, I can add 2 electric engines together to increase the capacity (see http://www.playmodb.org/cgi-bin/your_set_list.pl?setlist=4052 (http://www.playmodb.org/cgi-bin/your_set_list.pl?setlist=4052)), while I think it would be tricky to put 2 battery engines together and get the speed right on both of them.
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Did the flat cars have the weights underneath them, Wolf Knight?
With the old R/C trains I ran double headers by putting the same colour receiver in each train and using a single controller. Maybe you can do the same if you have two 5258s and choose the same wavelength.
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I got out some track and cars today to do some comparisons in capacities. With 9 cars on a straight track both engines (a 4000 series plain locomotive versus the 5258 diesel) each had no problem pulling the cars. I got tired to digging out cars after that, so I got out 3 flatcars and loaded them with nine 28 ounce cans of tomatoes. The electric engine had a hard time pulling these while the 5258 diesel was able to pull them with no problems and no slippage.
So, it would seem that the new engine does have more hauling capacity. However, I can add 2 electric engines together to increase the capacity (see http://www.playmodb.org/cgi-bin/your_set_list.pl?setlist=4052 (http://www.playmodb.org/cgi-bin/your_set_list.pl?setlist=4052)), while I think it would be tricky to put 2 battery engines together and get the speed right on both of them.
It's good to hear they are improving things.
Mind you, it's also new batteries.
Even with two engines and one was running slower than the other (batteries) they would still work fine - I would think in real life you would never get two locomotives that have exactly the same power either - one engine is going to produce slightly more or less Horse Power than the other(s) in the train. Yet, they would still work together to haul heavier loads. So I'm sure it's all good.
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Did the flat cars have the weights underneath them, Wolf Knight?
Yes, all cars, even the 9 mixed cars, had the weights under the frame.